Randolph has come a long way since then, both as a player and a person. Yet despite his maturation, Randolph on Sunday appeared destined to match that embarrassment from more than a decade ago.

He started Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs by going 0-8 from the field. All but two of those misses were from the lane. The others, from the baseline and wing, were contested looks.

San Antonio planned it that way. Randolph burned the Spurs in 2011 when he scored a postseason career-high 31 points to lead the Grizzlies past the Spurs and into the Western finals.

The Spurs want to make sure that doesn't happen again. Randolph finished Game 1 with two points, seven rebounds and one block. San Antonio's plan worked on the first try, and here's a look at two methods they used:

FRONTING THE POST

The Grizzlies offense runs through center Marc Gasol, and he typically makes entry passes to Randolph. Gasol will catch near the free-throw line and look into the post.

Instead of denying Gasol a midrange shot, the Spurs sunk in and stood in front on Randolph's post attempts. And when Randolph was away from the ball, each defender face-guarded Randolph and denied him under every circumstance. The result through halftime: 12 shots for Gasol, three for Randolph.

The second half worked out more evenly, but both players were ineffective. Randolph finished the half 1-of-5 from the field; Gasol was 1-of-4. Gasol ended the game 7-of-16 for 15 points.

INCLUDING RANDOLPH IN PICK-AND-ROLL DEFENSE

The Spurs also used their offensive scheme to take Randolph away from the defensive glass and sap his energy.

With Randolph guarding Tiago Splitter, the Spurs subbed their center — or whomever Randolph guarded — in for Tim Duncan on screen and rolls. This method tired Randolph and took Gasol, the league's Defensive Player of the Year, away from the ball.

Randolph finished with four defensive rebounds, and Spurs guard Tony Parker used screens for a team-high 20 points. Many of his baskets came off the dribble, just as Randolph tried to contest or point guard Mike Conley worked to regain defensive position.

Each breakdown sent the Grizzlies into a scramble. That in turn allowed Parker to notch nine assists through penetrating and passing to open shooters, an element that helped the Spurs make a team postseason record 14 3-pointers.